It’s not that Fabio Capello has the Midas touch, because there’s no magic or mystery to his brilliance. His genius is in his competence. He knows how to organise a team.
It’s a basic concept, but there’s nothing more effective than the right game plan being executed perfectly by committed players.
It’s such a contrast from the mess during the Steve McClaren regime. England have gone from the wally with the brolly to a manager who’d still look triumphant on a wet night at Wembley. He’d be splashing through the puddles like Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain.
Under McClaren there was no focus, no direction, no hope of the team being anything more than also-rans. The defeat by Croatia that cost England a place in Euro 2008 was the best thing that could have happened, because it provoked a change in management and in attitude.
No longer do players brought into the side look nervous wrecks. In contrast to the panicked Scott Carson at Wembley two years ago, Robert Green was calm and collected; he looked like he’s been first-choice goalkeeper for years.
England have lots of options in the squad, plenty of resources to call on, and no matter who Capello may bring into the team and regardless of their level of experience, you would back them to look comfortable straight away.
From the start last night, England stroked the ball around with assurance. That confidence comes from players who buy into the manager’s plan. They trust the tactics and they have faith in match-winners such as Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard to produce something special under pressure if the need arises.
Here’s what I mean about England’s organisation under Capello. In the first half, John Terry was on the left wing at one moment, then sprinting to get back into the defence when the ball was lost. He didn’t jog back in the hope that someone else would cover him or that the Croatia counter-attack would break down. He knew the importance of recovering the team’s defensive shape. That’s England’s captain, their inspiration, and where he leads, others follow.
We also saw Aaron Lennon run 30 yards to get a block in. He could have strolled back, pleased with himself for a nice little dribble, but coasting doesn’t wash with this manager.
All the players muck in at all times. They know where to be and what to do. They know their jobs back to front, whether the ball is in the opposition’s box or their own. That’s professionalism and desire.
Once England were 2-0 up, the game was almost a non-event, which is a tribute to them. They seized command and never looked like giving it up.
Emile Heskey’s wastefulness meant only that England went in at half-time two goals ahead instead of four, but Capello’s England create so many chances that on a night when everything goes right in front of goal, even a big team will find themselves on the end of a serious beating. It is a settled side but no one is guaranteed the shirt. That’s a great combination: continuity with constant motivation. Simple, but superb.
卡佩罗并不会什么点石成金术，他的智慧也并不是因为什么魔术或是秘诀。他的天才之处在于他的能力。他懂得如何去组织一支队伍。
这是一个基本概念，但是也没有什么比将正确的战术交由信任的球员完美执行更重要的了。
这与史蒂夫.麦克拉伦掌帅时一团乱的局面形成了鲜明对比。英格兰队从一个需要洋教练保护伞的一流队伍变成即使在潮湿的温布利也能意气风发的胜利者。他们就像吉恩.凯利于《在雨中》那样挥洒着赛场上的积水。
在麦克拉伦时期，英格兰队没有焦点，没有方向，除了成为失败者之外他们没有任何希望。那场因为输给克罗地亚而失去的2008欧锦赛资格是所能发生的最好的事情了，因为它催生出一场在管理和态度上的变革。
球员们在场边再也不会表现得像是神经衰弱了。与两年前那个在温布利惊慌失措的斯科特.卡森相比，罗伯特.格林显得冷静而镇定；他看上去像是已经有多年经验的首发守门员了。
英格兰队在组队时有许多选择，也有许多资源可以利用，但是无论卡佩罗将谁带进队中，无论他们的经验有多少，你回过头来会立即发现他们看上去是如此顺眼。
从昨晚比赛的一开始，英格兰队的运球就很沉稳。这份自信来自那些遵循了教练计划的球员们。他们信任球队策略并且相信像韦恩.鲁尼和史蒂夫.杰拉德这样的常胜将军在要求提升时能给球队带来一些压力下的惊喜。
这就是我所说的关于卡佩罗麾下的英格兰队的组织。在上半场，约翰.特里有一阵子在右翼活动，在发现丢球后又奋力跑回防守位置。他没有因为带着会有别人补上来或者克罗地亚的反击会被破解的侥幸念头而慢慢的跑回去。他知道恢复球队防守队形的重要性。这就是英格兰队的队长，激励着队员们，他带领着他们的前进方向。
我们也看到艾朗.伦农狂奔30码去截球。他可以为他优美的运球小动作感到满意，从而闲庭信步地回到后场，但是这并不被教练允许。
所有的球员一直在一起全力以赴。他们知道要去向哪里，去做什么。他们知道他们的原始使命，无论球是在对手还是在他们的脚下。
当英格兰出于2-0领先时，这场比赛就几乎失去了意义，这对他们来说只是一次赞颂。他们遵从了使命并且看上去从未将它丢弃。
埃米尔.赫斯基的浪费仅仅表现出英格兰队在半场时本有机会四球领先，但是卡佩罗的英格兰队在一切都运转正常时在一个晚上创造了这么多机会，即使是一支强大的队伍在最后也将会发现他们最终处于惨败的境地。现在英格兰队正处于一种稳定的状态但没人能保证可以保住自己的球衣。这是一次成功的结合：流畅性和始终不变的积极性。简单，但是绝妙。
责任编辑：八月骄阳
